North Sea crude oil and natural gas liquids production hit a record high of 5.76 million b/d in October, as Norway and U.K. fields returned to full production after summer maintenance programs.
Norway's output in October surged to an average 2.9 million b/d, said Wood Mackenzie Consultants Ltd., Edinburgh, and is expected to average 2.67 million b/d for the year.
This is up from 2.69 million b/d produced off Norway during September and more than the previous high of 2.76 million b/d achieved just before summer maintenance work began.
For the first time since June, Norwegian output was not affected by maintenance shutdowns, said Wood Mackenzie, and production was augmented by 26,000 b/d of new production from East Statfjord field.
"In addition, production from a number of fields, most notably Ekofisk, is currently exceeding the levels achieved at the beginning of the summer," the analyst said.
Meanwhile, Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Edinburgh, said U.K. offshore output averaged 2.63 million b/d in October, the highest output level since january 1987.
"The 2% rise in production was due to new fields increasing their output and fields shut down in September for maintenance returning to full production," said the bank.
Major returns were said to have come in Scott field, where output bounced back 70,000 b/d, and Brent field, where a surge of 30,000 b/d was noted.
Wood Mackenzie said Danish oil and NGL production averaged 186,000 b/d in October, up from 185,000 b/d in September. Most of the increase came from Tyra field, where increasing gas production raised condensate output.
Only the Netherlands saw a decrease in production. October oil and NGL output was 45,000 b/d, down from 47,000 b/d in September.
Copyright 1994 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
Issue date: 12/12/94
